Дюна
Book One: Dune
“Whatareyourorders,NobleBorn?”
Itwasawoman’svoice,thinandstringy.
Jessicawhirled,stareddownataknobby,gray-hairedwomaninashapelesssackdressofbondsmanbrown.Thewomanlookedaswrinkledanddesiccatedasanymemberofthemobthathadgreetedthemalongthewayfromthelandingfieldthatmorning.Everynativeshehadseenonthisplanet,Jessicathought,lookedprunedryandundernourished.Yet,Letohadsaidtheywerestrongandvital.Andthereweretheeyes,ofcourse—thatwashofdeepest,darkestbluewithoutanywhite—secretive,mysterious.Jessicaforcedherselfnottostare.
Thewomangaveastiff-neckednod,said:“IamcalledtheShadoutMapes,NobleBorn.Whatareyourorders?”
“Youmayrefertomeas‘myLady,’”Jessicasaid.“I’mnotnobleborn.I’mtheboundconcubineoftheDukeLeto.”
Againthatstrangenod,andthewomanpeeredupwardatJessicawithaslyquestioning.“There’sawife,then?”
“Thereisnot,norhasthereeverbeen.IamtheDuke’sonly...companion,themotherofhisheir-designate.”
Evenasshespoke,Jessicalaughedinwardlyatthepridebehindherwords.
WhatwasitSt.Augustinesaid?sheaskedherself.“Themindcommandsthebodyanditobeys.Themindordersitselfandmeetsresistance.”Yes—Iammeetingmoreresistancelately.Icoulduseaquietretreatbymyself.
Aweirdcrysoundedfromtheroadoutsidethehouse.Itwasrepeated:“Soo-soo-Sook!Soo-soo-Sook!”Then:“Ikhut-eigh!Ikhut-eigh!”Andagain:“Soo-soo-Sook!”
“Whatisthat?”Jessicaasked.
